The way buildings are managed is changing. Compliance is no longer something that can be signed off on once and forgotten. Instead, it is a continuous process. A live building compliance check ensures that every stage of a project, from design to day-to-day operation, meets the standards set out in building regulations, approval and other legal requirements.

This new approach is linked to the Golden Thread of information, a principle introduced after the Grenfell Tower tragedy. The Golden Thread is about creating an accurate and up-to-date record of a building’s design, construction, and safety features. When applied to compliance, it provides a clear picture of whether a building is safe and whether legal duties are being met.

The Golden Thread Explained

The Golden Thread was recommended by Dame Judith Hackitt in her Building a Safer Future review. She found that poor record-keeping and unclear responsibilities had made buildings less safe than they should be.

The Golden Thread is designed to solve these problems. It ensures that building information is:

• Accurate – up to date and correct.
• Accessible – available to those who need it, from dutyholders to residents.
• Accountable – clear about who made decisions and why.

In practice, this means that details such as fire door standards, energy efficiency ratings, and structural safety checks are recorded digitally and can be checked at any time. A live building compliance check is how this principle is put into action.

Why Live Compliance Checks Matter

In the past, compliance was often confirmed only at the end of building work. While inspections and certificates remain important, this approach is no longer enough. A live compliance check brings several advantages:

• It ensures compliance is continuous, not occasional.
• Problems can be identified and resolved quickly.
• Dutyholders can demonstrate they are meeting their responsibilities.
• Residents can feel confident that buildings are safe.

This way of working makes compliance part of the everyday management of a building. It means that safety, energy performance, and building control standards are always in view.

What Compliance Covers

A live check has to consider the main areas covered by building regulations approval. These include:

• Structural safety to make sure a building can handle the loads it is designed for.
• Fire safety, including escape routes, detection systems, and resistance levels.
• Energy performance and energy efficiency, which cover insulation, ventilation, and heating systems.
• Accessibility, ensuring buildings are usable by everyone.
• Electrical, water, and gas installations that meet safe standards.
• Drainage and sanitation systems.

While fire and structural safety are often the main focus, energy efficiency is becoming just as important. With the UK aiming for net zero, live checks also help buildings meet their sustainability obligations.

How to Carry Out a Live Building Compliance Check

A live compliance check involves more than a quick inspection. It is a structured process that brings together documentation, technology, and on-site verification.

1. Collect Records

The first step is gathering all the relevant documentation. This includes risk assessments, safety certificates, and approvals from the local authority or approved inspectors.

2. Use Digital Systems

Technology now plays a central role. Building Information Modelling can be combined with rule-checking software to test whether designs meet the rules. Compliance apps, such as the one provided by MosaicGT, make it easier to store, monitor, and update records in real time.

3. Confirm Dutyholder Roles

Under the Building Safety Act, dutyholders include clients, designers, and contractors. A compliance check must confirm that each is meeting their legal responsibilities.

4. Inspect Work on Site

Site inspections remain essential. With digital tools, these checks can be recorded instantly with notes, photos, and reports stored within the Golden Thread.

5. Compare with Regulations

All work must be checked against the correct standards. This includes parts of the Building Regulations covering fire safety, structural design, and energy performance.

6. Update Records

The Golden Thread must be updated with each finding. This ensures a continuous record that can be accessed later by regulators, insurers, or residents.

7. Report Results

The final step is to issue a report or certificate confirming compliance. This provides assurance for stakeholders and evidence for future inspections.

Technology in Compliance

Technology makes live compliance checks possible. Automated tools can test designs against rules, while digital systems reduce the chance of missing information. These systems allow dutyholders to see compliance status at any time and act before small issues become large problems.

MosaicGT’s app is an example of this approach. Tracking documents, inspection dates, and safety data helps landlords and building managers maintain compliance across their properties.

An Example in Practice

Imagine a residential block undergoing work to improve energy efficiency. The project involves new insulation, upgraded windows, and replacement fire doors.

With a live compliance check, the process begins by reviewing design documents and making sure the products meet building regulations approval. As installation takes place, inspectors record updates digitally, noting that materials are fitted correctly. If a change in product occurs, the new details are uploaded, and compliance with both fire safety and energy performance standards is checked immediately.

By the end of the project, there is a complete record that shows not only that the building work was compliant but that compliance was checked at every stage.

Best Practice for Ongoing Compliance

Compliance does not end with construction. To maintain high standards, dutyholders should:

• Stay trained on changes in regulations.
• Use digital platforms to track renewals and inspections.
• Work collaboratively so that designers, contractors, and residents have access to information.
• Keep records up to date so audits and checks can be completed without delay.

This approach makes building control part of everyday management rather than a separate process.

Conclusion

The Golden Thread has changed how compliance is viewed. It ensures information is accurate, accessible, and accountable, and live compliance checks put this into practice.

By following a clear process, using digital tools, and maintaining continuous records, dutyholders can show that building work is compliant not just once but throughout the life of the building. With growing focus on safety, energy efficiency, and transparency, live compliance checks are a practical way to meet the expectations of regulators, residents, and the wider public.